The restaurateur behind some of New York City's most beloved restaurants shares his recipe for being the host (or hostess) with the most this holiday season

Chocolate Cake - Danny Meyer on Hospitality

Chocolate Cake - Danny Meyer on Hospitality

When it comes to extending a warm welcome, Danny Meyer famously has the golden touch. Through his Union Square Hospitality Group, the New York restaurateur runs some of the city’s most beloved restaurants—including Union Square Cafe, the Modern at the Museum of Modern Art, Gramercy Tavern, and Blue Smoke. Even Shake Shack, his burger chain—with outposts from Miami to Kuwait City—is a class act for both the quality of its food and the warmth and professionalism of its well-trained staff. Here, Meyer (who is also the author of Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business) shares his recipe for being the host (or hostess) with the most this holiday season.

Setting the Stage

• If you want to throw a great party, know that nothing rises to a higher level than how the hosts or host family treat one another. If you are arguing or tense, there is no way your guests won’t feel that. Don’t expect your guests to have a better time than you are having yourself.

• Get yourself in the frame of mind to have a good time at your own party. One thing that works for me is to get some exercise. It makes me feel better about myself and builds my appetite. When a host abstains from eating or drinking during a party, it sends a message that guests should hold back too.